Robbed in Hanoi - The good bit of the story

As per previous post I was robbed this week in Hanoi. But all is not terrible and I’d like to share some of the amazing experiences I’ve had because of this crap incident.

Firstly - alone on a dark street, upset, I got out my guide book and looked up the words for “help” and “police”. Through my tears I said to a little old lady walking by, who took my hand, stroking it, and quietly trying to calm me in Vietnamese took me to the police station.

The police man, who didn’t speak a word of English, who rang someone he new spoke English at 5am and woke them up to translate. He made me a cup of tea, sat me down and again, calmed me down. When the translator on the end of the phone explained I had no money and needed to get to the Aussie Embassy, he paid a moto driver out of his own pocket to get me there.

The family who live at the Aussie Embassy, who at 6am on Sunday morning, have a snivelling shaking woman arrive with no idea what to do. Thank you for inviting me into your home, making me vegemite on toast & tea, letting me call my husband, and helping sort out an emergancy passport and a $100 loan.

To all the staff at Kangaroo Cafe & Tour office. You didn’t have to refund me my days tour that I missed, you didn’t have to change my ticket to Hoi An for free, you didn’t have to give me a free lunch and spend hours chatting with me but you did all these things. When I was stuck in Han Noi for 2 extra days with no money, you drove me to the Ethenology Museum so I had something to do and didn’t pay for a taxi. When I had to buy a new phone to replace the one that was stolen, you went and got it for me so I would only pay “local” price not “tourist” price. Thank you thank you thank you!

To the complete stranger, who found my purse (minus money) and my passport dumped on the road, you didn’t have to go out of your way to hand it in to the Kangaroo Cafe, but you did. I’ll never know who you are but thank you. There were photo’s & items in my purse of no monetary value, but a lot of sentimental value that you returned to me.

As upsetting & frustrating as this has been, I’ve met people who I never would have met, and experienced unbelievable kindness & generosity. I lost “stuff” but physically, I’m fine and for that I’m very grateful. In a strange way, this has been a blessing, I have made so many new friends whom I can never really re-pay. Thank you!

Reported by Burnsey on Thorn Tree World

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